Sun-shade assembly

ABSTRACT

A sun-shade assembly includes two end caps disposed respectively and non-rotatably on two supporting seats. A screen unit includes two roller bases disposed respectively and rotatably on the end caps, a tubular roller member disposed between and interconnecting fixedly the roller bases, and a screen wound around the roller member. A supporting rail member extends through the roller member, and has two ends connected respectively to the end caps. A tubular stabilizing seat is fixed within a middle portion of the roller member, and is sleeved rotatably on the supporting rail member in a close-fitting manner. A winding mechanism is disposed between the stabilizing member and one of the end caps, and includes a torsion spring for biasing the roller member to rotate such that the screen is wound therearound from an unwound state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a sun-shade assembly, more particularly to a sun-shade assembly that can enable a screen with a relatively large size to be smoothly and evenly wound around a roller member.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional sun-shade assembly 1 can be applied to a vehicle for partition and sunlight-shielding purposes, and is shown to include a tubular outer housing 11, a tubular roller 12 disposed rotatably in the tubular outer housing 11, a screen 13 wound around the tubular roller 12, two adjusting mechanisms 14 spaced apart from each other and mounted respectively on opposite ends of the tubular outer housing 11, two roller caps 15 fitted respectively and fixedly in opposite ends of the tubular roller 12, two supporting frames 16 spaced apart from each other and disposed respectively in proximity to the ends of the tubular outer housing 11, and a winding mechanism 17 disposed in the tubular roller 12.

The screen 13 has a connecting edge 131 fixedly connected to the tubular roller 12, and a free edge 132 opposite to the connecting edge 131 and provided with a stretch rod 133. The adjusting mechanisms 14 are operable to allow for mounting of the conventional sun-shade assembly 1 between two walls of the vehicle. Each of the adjusting mechanisms 14 includes an internally threaded tube 141 and an externally threaded rod 142 that engage each other. The winding mechanism 17 includes a mounting rod 171 having a flattened first end 173 that extends through a corresponding one of the roller caps 15 and that is inserted into and fixed to a corresponding one of the adjusting mechanisms 14, and a second end 174 opposite to the first end 173 and extending into the tubular roller 12, and a torsion spring 172 sleeved on the mounting rod 17 and having two ends fastened respectively to the second end 174 of the mounting rod 171 and the corresponding one of the roller caps 15. The torsion spring 172 biases the tubular roller 12 to rotate in a direction such that the screen 13 is wound therearound from a state where the screen 13 is unwound from the tubular roller 12.

However, in the conventional sun-shade assembly 1, a torsion force generated by the single torsion spring 172 is sufficient only when the screen 13 has a relatively small size. In other words, when the screen 13 is large, the conventional sun-shade assembly 1 cannot ensure smooth and even retraction of the screen 13 into the outer housing 11.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a sun-shade assembly that can enable a screen with a relatively large size to be smoothly and evenly wound around a roller member.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sun-shade assembly adapted to be disposed between first and second supporting seats. The sun-shade assembly comprises:

first and second end caps adapted to be disposed respectively and non-rotatably on the first and second supporting seats;

a screen unit including two roller bases disposed respectively and rotatably on the first and second end caps, a tubular roller member having a pivoting-starting end and a pivoting-terminating end that are opposite to each other and that are connected respectively and fixedly to the roller bases, and a screen wound around the tubular roller member;

a supporting rail member extending through the tubular roller member and having two ends connected respectively to the first and second end caps, the supporting rail member including a plurality of interconnected rail sections disposed non-rotatably between the first and second end caps;

a tubular stabilizing seat fixed within a middle portion of the tubular roller member and sleeved rotatably on the supporting rail member in a close-fitting manner; and

a winding mechanism disposed between the stabilizing seat and one of the first and second end caps and disposed in proximity to the pivoting-starting end of the tubular roller member, the winding mechanism including a torsion spring for biasing the tubular roller member when the screen is unwound from the tubular roller member to rotate an assembly of the tubular roller member, the roller bases and the stabilizing seat about the supporting rail member, thereby winding the screen around the tubular roller member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventional sun-shade assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the preferred embodiment of a sun-shade assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an assembly of a first end cap, a roller base, a tubular roller member, a first mounting rod and a torsion spring of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partly exploded, fragmentary perspective view showing the first end cap, the roller base, the first mounting rod and the torsion spring of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an assembly of the first mounting rod, a second mounting rod, a middle rail unit, a tubular stabilizing seat and the tubular roller member of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the middle rail unit and the tubular stabilizing seat of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an assembly of a second end cap, another roller base, the tubular roller member, the second mounting rod and a coiled compression spring of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view showing the second end cap, another roller base, the second mounting rod, the compression spring and inner and outer spring caps of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the preferred embodiment while mounted between first and second supporting seats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of a sun-shade assembly 2 according to the present invention is shown to be adapted to be disposed between first and second supporting seat 20, 20′, each of which has a mounting surface 201 formed with a non-circular recess 202. The sun-shade assembly 2 includes first and second end caps 3, 3′, a screen unit 4, a supporting rail member, a tubular stabilizing seat 8, and a winding mechanism 6.

The first and second end caps 3, 3′ are adapted to be disposed respectively and non-rotatably on the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′. Each of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ has an engagement portion 33 adapted to engage fittingly the non-circular recess 202 in a corresponding one of the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′ so as to prevent rotation of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ on the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′, as shown in FIG. 9. With further reference to FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the first end cap 3 has a first tubular portion 31 formed with a slot 311 that extends in a horizontal direction, an end wall portion 32 connected integrally to an outer end of the first sleeve portion 31 and formed with the engagement portion 33, and a second tubular portion 34 connected to the end wall portion 32 and disposed co-axially in the first tubular portion 31, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The second end cap 3′ has the same construction as that of the first end cap 3.

With additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 8, in this embodiment, the screen unit 4 includes two sleeve-shaped roller bases 41 sleeved respectively and rotatably on the second sleeve portions 34 of the first and second end caps 3, 3′, a tubular roller member 42 having a pivoting-starting end 423 and a pivot-terminating end 424 that are opposite to each other and that are connected respectively and fixedly to the roller bases 41, and a screen 43 wound around the tubular roller member 42 and having a connecting edge 431 fixedly connected to the tubular roller member 42, and a free edge 432 opposite to the connecting edge 431, as shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that each roller base 41 is tubular, and has an inner end surface 417 that is formed with a keyway unit 416. In this embodiment, for each roller base 41, the keyway unit 416 includes four angularly equidistant radial slots 4161 formed in the end surface 417, and the end surface 417 has two inclined guiding facets 418 disposed between each adjacent pair of the radial slots 4161, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8.

The supporting rail member extends through the tubular roller member 42 and has two ends connected respectively to the first and second end caps 3, 3′. The supporting rail member includes a plurality of interconnected rail sections disposed non-rotatably between the first and second end caps 3, 3′.

In this embodiment, referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, the rail sections include a first mounting rod 61, a second mounting rod 71, a middle rail unit 5, and a coiled compression spring 76.

The first mounting rod 61 has an inner end 611 that has a circular rod portion formed with two aligned projections 6111, and an outer end 612 extending through a corresponding one of the roller bases 41 and into the second tubular portion 34 of the first end cap 3 and connected fixedly of the engagement portion 33 of the first end cap 3 by means of an insertion pin 62 (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, the first mounting rod 61 is formed with a key unit 63 that includes two aligned radial stubs 631 extending respectively from two sides of the first mounting rod 61 away from each other, and that is disposed in proximity to the inner end surface 417 of a corresponding one of the roller bases 41, as shown in FIG. 9.

The second mounting rod 71 has an inner end 711 that has a circular rod portion formed with two aligned projections 7111, and an outer end 712 extending through a corresponding one of the roller bases 41 and into the second sleeve portion 34 of the second end cap 3′ and connected fixedly to the engagement portion 33 of the second end cap 3′ by means of an insertion pin 72 (see FIG. 8). Furthermore, the second mounting rod 71 is formed with a key unit 73 that includes two aligned radial stubs 731 extending respectively from two sides of the second mounting rod 71 away from each other, and that is disposed in proximity to the inner end surface 417 of a corresponding one of the roller bases 41, as shown in FIG. 9.

It is noted that the key unit 63, 73 on each of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 is spaced apart from the inner end surface 417 of the corresponding one of the roller bases 41 when the engagement portions 33 of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ are disposed respectively within the non-circular recesses 202 in the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′, as shown in FIG. 9. On the other hand, the radial stubs 631, 731 of the key unit 63, 73 on each of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 are movable to engage respectively two of the radial slots 416 in the end surface of the corresponding one of the roller bases 41.

In this embodiment, the middle rail unit 5 includes two side tubes 52 each having two opposite open ends 50, 51, and a middle shaft 53 disposed between the side tubes 52 and having two opposite ends 531 extending respectively into the side tubes 52. The opposite ends 531 of the middle shaft 53 are connected respectively and fixedly to the ends 50 of the side tubes 52 by means of two connecting pins 54, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The end 51 of each side tube 52 has an end surface 511 that is formed with a circular hole 512, and an inner surface that is formed with two aligned open-ended slots 513 communicated with the circular hole 512. The circular rod portions of the inner ends 611, 711 of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 engage fittingly and respectively the circular holes 512 in the ends 51 of the side tubes 52, and the projections 6111, 7111 on the inner end 611, 711 of each of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 engage respectively and fittingly the open-ended slots 513 in a corresponding one of the ends 51 of the side tubes 52 so as to allow for axial movement of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 relatively to the middle rail unit 5 while preventing rotation of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 relative to the middle rail unit 5, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The coiled compression spring 76 is sleeved on the second mounting rod 71, and is adapted to bias the engagement portion 33 of the second end cap 3′ to move away from the middle rail unit 5 into the non-circular recess 202 in the second supporting seat 20′ so that the first and second end caps 3, 3′ are biased to move away from each other. The first and second end caps 3, 3′ are movable toward each other so as to permit the engagement portions 33 of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ to move away from the non-circular recesses 202 in the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′. In this embodiment, there is further provided an inner spring cap 751 and an outer spring cap 752, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. The inner spring cap 751 is fixed within the tubular roller member 42 by means of two lock pins 74 (see FIG. 7), and the outer spring cap 752 is disposed movably within the tubular roller member 42 between the inner spring cap 751 and the stubs 731 of the key unit 73 on the second mounting rod 71, as shown in FIG. 7. The compression spring 76 is confined between the inner and outer spring caps 751, 752, and biases the outer spring cap 752 to press against the stubs 731 of the key unit 73 on the second mounting rod 71.

In this embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the stabilizing seat 8 is fixed within a middle portion of the tubular roller member 42 by means of a lock pin 9 that extends into a wall 422 of the tubular roller member 42 and the stabilizing seat 8, and is sleeved rotatably on the middle shaft 53 of the middle rail unit 5 of the supporting rail member in a close-fitting manner. The middle rail unit 5 further includes two washer rings 57, each of which is sleeved on the middle shaft 53 and is disposed between the stabilizing seat 8 and the end 50 of a corresponding one of the side tubes 52.

The winding mechanism 6 is disposed between the stabilizing seat 8 and the first end cap 3, and is disposed in proximity to the pivoting-starting end 423 of the tubular roller member 42, as shown in FIG. 2. The winding mechanism 6 includes a torsion spring 64 for biasing the tubular roller member 42 to rotate such that the screen 43 is wound therearound from a state where the screen 43 is unwound from the tubular roller member 42. That is, the torsion spring 64 applies a biasing force to rotate an assembly of the tubular roller member 42, the roller bases 41 and the stabilizing seat 8 about the supporting rail member. In this embodiment, the torsion spring 64 has two ends 642, 641 fastened respectively to a corresponding one of the roller bases 41 and the first mounting rod 61, as shown in FIG. 2.

It is noted that the torsion spring 64 and the compression spring 76 bias the key units 63, 73 on the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 to abut respectively against the inner end surfaces 41 of the roller bases 41 when the engagement portions 33 of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ are removed respectively from the non-circular recesses 202 in the first and second supporting seats 20, 20′, after which the first and second end caps 3, 3′ can be rotated relative to the tubular roller member 42 so as to engage respectively the key units 63, 73 on the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 with the keyway units 416 in the roller bases 41, thereby preventing rotation of the first and second end caps 3, 3′ relative to the tubular roller member 42.

Although the winding mechanism 6 includes only the single torsion spring 64, due to the presence of the stabilizing seat 8, the sun-shade assembly 2 of the present invention can enable the screen 43 with a relatively large size to be smoothly and evenly wound around the tubular roller member 42 from an unwound state.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A sun-shade assembly adapted to be disposed between first and second supporting seats, said sun-shade assembly comprising: first and second end caps adapted to be disposed respectively and non-rotatably on the first and second supporting seats; a screen unit including two roller bases disposed respectively and rotatably on said first and second end caps, a tubular roller member having a pivoting-starting end and a pivoting-terminating end that are opposite to each other and that are connected respectively and fixedly to said roller bases, and a screen wound around said tubular roller member; a supporting rail member extending through said tubular roller member and having two ends connected respectively to said first and second end caps, said supporting rail member including a plurality of interconnected rail sections disposed non-rotatably between said first and second end caps; a tubular stabilizing seat fixed within a middle portion of said tubular roller member and sleeved rotatably on said supporting rail member in a close-fitting manner; and a winding mechanism disposed between said stabilizing seat and one of said first and second end caps and disposed in proximity to said pivoting-starting end of said tubular roller member, said winding mechanism including a torsion spring for biasing said tubular roller member to rotate an assembly of said tubular roller member, said roller bases and said stabilizing seat about said supporting rail member, thereby winding said screen around said tubular roller member.
 2. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lock pin extending into a wall of said tubular roller member and said stabilizing seat so as to fix said stabilizing seat within said tubular roller member.
 3. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 1, each of the first and second supporting seats being formed with a non-circular recess, wherein each of said first and second end caps has an engagement portion adapted to engage fittingly the non-circular recess in a corresponding one of the first and second supporting seats so as to prevent rotation of said first and second end caps on the first and second supporting seats, said rail sections of said supporting rail member including: a first mounting rod having an outer end connected fixedly to said first end cap, and an inner end; a second mounting rod having an outer end connected fixedly to said second end cap, and an inner end; a middle rail unit having two opposite ends connected axially and movably to said inner ends of said first and second mounting rods, said stabilizing seat being sleeved rotatably on said middle rail unit; and a coiled compression spring sleeved on said second mounting rod and adapted to bias said engagement portion of said second end cap to move away from said middle rail unit into the non-circular recess in the second supporting seat so that said first and second end caps are biased to move away from each other, said first and second end caps being movable toward each other so as to permit said engagement portions of said first and second end caps to separate respectively from the non-circular recesses in the first and second supporting seats; said torsion spring being sleeved on said first mounting rod and being adapted to bias said engagement portion of said first end cap to move away from said middle rail unit into the non-circular recess in the first supporting seat.
 4. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said ends of said middle rail unit has an end surface that is formed with a circular hole, and an inner surface that is formed with two aligned open-ended slots communicated with said circular hole, each of said inner ends of said first and second mounting rods having a circular rod portion that engages fittingly said circular hole in a corresponding one of said ends of said middle rail unit and that is formed with two aligned projections engaging respectively and fittingly said open-ended slots in the corresponding one of said ends of said middle rail unit so as to allow for axial movement of said first and second mounting rods relative to said middle rail unit while preventing rotation of said first and second mounting rods relative to said middle rail unit.
 5. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said middle rail unit includes two side tubes each having two opposite open ends, and a middle shaft disposed between said side tubes and having two opposite ends extending respectively into and connected respectively and fixedly to said side tubes, said circular holes being formed respectively in said side tubes, said stabilizing seat being sleeved rotatably on said middle shaft.
 6. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said roller bases is tubular, and has an inner end surface that is formed with a keyway unit, each of said first and second mounting rods extending through a corresponding one of said roller bases and being formed with a key unit that is disposed in proximity to and spaced apart from said inner end surface of the corresponding one of said roller bases when said engagement portions of said first and second end caps are disposed respectively within the non-circular recesses in the first and second supporting seats, said torsion spring and said compression spring biasing said key units on said first and second mounting rods to abut respectively against said inner end surfaces of said roller bases when said engagement portions of said first and second end caps are removed respectively from the non-circular recesses in the first and second supporting seats, after which said first and second end caps can be rotated relative to said tubular roller member so as to engage respectively said key units on said first and second mounting rods with said keyway units in said roller bases, thereby preventing rotation of said first and second end caps relative to said tubular roller member.
 7. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said keyway unit in each of said roller bases includes four angularly equidistant radial slots formed in said inner end surface of a corresponding one of said roller bases, said key unit on each of said first and second mounting rods including two aligned radial stubs that extend respectively from two opposite sides of a corresponding one of said first and second mounting rods away from each other and that are movable to engage respectively two of said radial slots in said inner end surface of the corresponding one of said roller bases.
 8. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: an inner spring cap fixed within said tubular roller member; and an outer spring cap disposed movably within said tubular roller member between said inner spring cap and said stubs of said key unit on said second mounting rod, said compression spring being confined between said inner and outer spring caps and biasing said outer spring cap to press against said stubs of said key unit on said second mounting rod.
 9. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said torsion spring has two ends fastened respectively to a corresponding one of said roller bases and said first mounting rod. 